Transcriber's Note:
Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully aspossible, including non-standard spelling and punctuation.
Some changes of spelling and punctuation have been made. They arelisted at the end of the text.
Sacrificing the earth for paradise is giving upthe substance for the shadow.
—Victor Hugo.
Is Life Worth Living
Without Immortality?
A Lecture Delivered Before
the Independent Religious
Society, Chicago
By
M. M. MANGASARIAN
I may be doing you an injustice, Bertie, but itseemed to me in your last that there were indicationsthat the free expression of my religious views hadbeen distasteful to you. That you should disagreewith me I am prepared for; but that you should objectto free and honest discussion of those subjectswhich above all others men should be honest over,would, I confess, be a disappointment. The Free-thinkeris placed at this disadvantage in ordinarysociety, that whereas it would be considered very badtaste upon his part to obtrude his unorthodox opinion,no such consideration hampers those with whomhe disagrees. There was a time when it took a braveman to be a Christian. Now it takes a brave mannot to be.
SIR A. CONAN DOYLE,
The Stark Munro Letters—Fourth Letter.
Is Life Worth Living WithoutImmortality?
Is life worth living? If we are in good health, it certainlyis. In a certain sense, even to ask such a question impliesthat we are not at our best. It is the sick, mentally as well asphysically, who question the value of life. We cannot appreciatehealth too highly. Our philosophy of life is moreprofoundly affected by the condition of our body than we haveany idea. If I were composing a new set of beatitudes, oneof them would be in exaltation of health:
Blessed are they that have health, for they shall takepleasure in life.
Health also inspires faith in life. The first commandmentof the decalogue, instead of reading, "Thou shalt have noother gods before me," which is metaphysical and withoutdefinite meaning, could with much advantage be altered toread:
Thou shalt not trifle with thy health.
How fortunate it would have been for man had the "Deity"given that as his first and best thought to the world! Then,indeed, would he have been the friend of man. We cannotpreserve our health without observing all the other commandments—oftemperance, purity, sanity, self possession, contentment,and serenity of mind. "Behold I bring unto you health"ought to be the glad tidings of salvation. Give us that, andall the rest will be added unto us. Health is the foundationof character. If the foundation is insecure—if we have inheriteddisease and corruption, we can be sound, neither inour thoughts nor in our actions. The time may come whento be sickly will be considered a crime. A revolution in ourfeelings in this matter is already taking place. Formerly itwas thought that the path to self-development is through sorrowand suffering, and that the sick were the saints. The[Pg 4]verdict of science today, which has been confirmed by thegrowing experience of man, is that pleasurable activity is themost wholesome environment for man. Happiness has uponhuman nature the same effect